If you force me to take the blame, I'll spend a day in jail and gain a year's worth of spi

Just as Xiao Fenghua was deeply shaken, overwhelmed by shock and self-doubt...

A powerful aura suddenly erupted without warning.

boom--!!!

That wasn't an oppressive aura directed at anyone; it was simply the powerful aura that naturally emanated when one's cultivation broke through.

That's right, Zhang Yu's reward has arrived; he's broken through.

This is... a ninth-rank item?

The aura of a ninth-rank martial artist?

Xiao Fenghua's pupils contracted sharply, her heart nearly leaped out of her chest, and her beautiful face was filled with disbelief and horror.

Before she arrived, she had already used the power of the Prince Jing's mansion to thoroughly investigate Zhang Yu's background.

All intelligence clearly indicates that this young master of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion has poor martial arts aptitude, and after three years of cultivation, he has only barely reached the first rank.

But now... this ninth-grade aura, which is enough to make many martial artists who have cultivated for decades look up to it, is being emanated from this "good-for-nothing" without reservation.

It only took a day?

From the first rank to the ninth rank?

This is simply a fantasy!

"It seems he had been hiding his cultivation level before; he must have already possessed the eighth-grade cultivation level and just happened to break through today."

Xiao Fenghua found a reasonable explanation, but she was equally shocked.

Xiao Fenghua is twenty-five years old this year. She has exceptional talent and top-notch resources, but she is only at the peak of the seventh rank.

Jiang Luohan, known as the number one prodigy of Wei, is twenty-one years old this year. With the help of Zhang Yu's Bodhi Pill and various resources, she has only just broken through to the seventh rank.

But Zhang Yu, who seemed to be two years younger than her, had already broken through to the ninth rank.

"A 23-year-old ninth-rank official..."

Xiao Fenghua's mind went blank, with only this shocking thought echoing wildly within her.

"In the more than three hundred years since the founding of the Wei Kingdom, there has never been such a record."

No, not only in Wei, but throughout Qingzhou, where Wei is located, and even in the neighboring states, no one has ever been known to have reached the ninth rank of martial arts at the age of twenty-three.

She suddenly remembered the ancient records that said only in the legendary Tianzhou, which was said to be the gathering place of the world's fortune, could such amazing "holy sons" and "goddesses" exist.

But that was just a vague legend, as distant as two different worlds from the "Qingzhou" Wei Kingdom where she lived.

And now, a living, breathing, twenty-three-year-old ninth-rank martial artist is sitting in the prison opposite her.

At this moment, Xiao Fenghua finally had a "reasonable" explanation for Du Jun's courteous treatment and his obedience to the mysterious array master (Chen Dongpeng).

That's right, it's Zhang Yu's talent.

A martial arts talent so extraordinary it's almost despair-inducing.

No wonder someone as arrogant as Du Jun would lower himself to befriend him and call him "little friend".

Because Zhang Yu displayed unparalleled talent, enough to reach the level of a grandmaster, or even glimpse a higher realm.

Investing in him is investing in a future martial arts giant.

No wonder that master of formations was willing to hide his identity and work as a handyman in Dingshengfang, at his beck and call.

Besides the allure of the potential inheritance of formation techniques, Zhang Yu's own potential and future prospects are probably also important factors.

"He...he brazenly broke through to the ninth rank right in front of me...was he warning me?"

Xiao Fenghua felt a chill run down her spine.

A ninth-rank martial artist is nothing compared to the Wei royal family, which has a grandmaster in charge.

Xiao Fenghua's own background meant she was not afraid of a mere ninth-rank official.

However, the significance of a 23-year-old ninth-rank official is entirely different.

This represents both infinite possibilities and a terrifying future.

As long as he doesn't perish along the way, reaching the Innate Realm and becoming a Grandmaster is almost a certainty.

There is even a great chance that he can break through to the Grandmaster level.

Such an existence, even if its strength is not yet at its peak, is enough to make any force treat it with caution, and even go to great lengths to befriend it.

Because no one knows what heights he will reach in ten or twenty years.

Offend such a peerless genius who may stand at the top of the continent in the future?

That would be digging your own grave!

Moreover, with a Grandmaster of Alchemy, Du Jun, and a Grandmaster of Formations standing behind him, it would be unrealistic for others to nip him in the bud.

Upon realizing this, Xiao Fenghua broke out in a cold sweat.

All the previous contempt and disdain for Zhang Yu had vanished, replaced by deep apprehension, lingering fear, and an almost irrepressible desire to...befriend him.

The Prince Jing's Mansion is currently at a critical juncture in the "Nine Princes' Succession Struggle." If it can gain the assistance of this future giant, even if it is just to establish a good relationship, it will be an immeasurable boost to the mansion!

"But……"

A new question arose in Xiao Fenghua's mind: "Since he has such talent and strength, and connections like Du Jun and the Grandmaster of Formations, why would he allow himself to fall into such a predicament and be imprisoned in this dark and gloomy dungeon?"

"Given the methods he has demonstrated and his background, getting him exonerated would be a piece of cake."

"What exactly does he want to do?"

As Zhang Yu's aura gradually subsided in the cell, Xiao Fenghua felt that the mystery surrounding this young prisoner was growing thicker and thicker.

He is no longer just a "mysterious" prisoner, but a monster with extraordinary talent and hidden astonishing energy.

How should the Prince Jing's Mansion, or rather, Xiao Fenghua herself, deal with such a "monster"?

Is it to continue apologizing and making amends for the offense, and trying to befriend the person?

Or should we keep our distance and wait and see?

Xiao Fenghua's mind raced, and for a moment she was hesitant.

But one thing she was very clear about: from this moment on, her attitude towards Zhang Yu had to be completely changed.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and tidied her somewhat chaotic thoughts and appearance before speaking again.

This time, her tone and attitude will be completely different from before.

Zhang Yu, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to Xiao Fenghua's complex inner thoughts, or rather, utterly indifferent.

He was silently experiencing the surge of power within his body.

He's reached the ninth rank.

In two days, he rose from the first rank to the ninth rank.

What kind of monstrous "genius" standard does this system use as a reference for its "one year of cultivation"?

A barely perceptible smile curved his lips as he silently looked at Xiao Fenghua.

"Your Highness, I hope you will keep silent about what you saw and heard today."

Furthermore, please attribute everything that has happened in the past two days, including Chairman Du's visit yesterday, to the ridiculous fabrications of Prince Xiao Sheng.

At this point, I don't want to attract too much unnecessary attention.

Transmitting sound secretly!

This is a technique that only a ninth-rank martial artist can use, and only Xiao Fenghua can hear Zhang Yu's voice.

Xiao Fenghua felt a chill run down her spine. Although she didn't understand why Zhang Yu was so deliberately hiding his strength and background.

But she knew that since this mysterious and unpredictable "Ninth-Rank Prodigy" had spoken, she had better cooperate.

Given Zhang Yu's demonstrated potential and hidden power, if he wanted to harm the Jingwang Mansion, or even just express dissatisfaction, it would be enough to cause considerable trouble.

Moreover, his request at this moment is not difficult for her.

Xiao Fenghua quickly suppressed the shock and complex expression on her face, reverting to her previous expression of anger and disappointment, and launched into another tirade against Xiao Sheng.

In short, Xiao Sheng took the blame.

However, fearing that Xiao Sheng might offend Zhang Yu, she secretly gave him a hint, telling him to continue to curry favor with Zhang Yu.